Viana do Castelo, Norte Region, Portugal

🇵🇹 Viana do Castelo is a municipality and seat of the district of Viana do Castelo in the Norte Region of Portugal. The urbanized area of the municipality, comprises the city and the extended densely populated region reaches surrounding municipalities like Caminha and Ponte de Lima. It is located on the Portuguese Way path, an alternative path of the Camino de Santiago, and at the mouth of the Lima river.

History Human settlement in the region of Viana began during the Mesolithic era, from discoveries and archaeological excavations. Even around the Roman occupation the area was settled along the Mount of Santa Luzia.

The settlement of Viana da Foz do Lima, which it was called when King Afonso III of Portugal issued a foral (charter) on 18 July 1258, was a formalization of the 1253 Viana that the area was named.

In the 16th century, its port gained great importance as one of the entry-points for Portuguese explorers and traders, involved in the Portuguese discoveries. Many of the historical buildings originated during this period.

The prosperity that continued developed from the town's role as a port, protected by defensive structures (such as the Tower of Roqueta) to repel pirates from Galicia and north Africa. The port's ties to northern Europe came primarily from exports of wine, fruits and salt, and imports of tile, textiles and glass.

After the maritime discoveries and trade, the commercial life of Viana reached its greatest proportions during the reign of Queen Maria II of Portugal, when the monarch established the Associação Comercial de Viana do Castelo in 1852 (the fourth oldest public company of its type). The queen, in order to reward the loyalty of its citizens, who did not surrender to the Count of Antas, elevated the town to the status of city on 20 January 1848, renaming the settlement with its current name.

Geography Administratively, the municipality is divided into 27 civil parishes (freguesias): • Afife • Alvarães • Amonde • Anha • Areosa • Barroselas e Carvoeiro • Cardielos e Serreleis • Carreço • Castelo do Neiva • Chafé • Darque • Freixieiro de Soutelo • Geraz do Lima (Santa Maria, Santa Leocádia e Moreira) e Deão • Lanheses • Mazarefes e Vila Fria • Montaria • Mujães • Nogueira, Meixedo e Vilar de Murteda • Outeiro • Perre • Santa Marta de Portuzelo • São Romão de Neiva • Subportela, Deocriste e Portela Susã • Torre e Vila Mou • Viana do Castelo (Santa Maria Maior e Monserrate) e Meadela • Vila de Punhe • Vila Franca.

Economy Home to a modern service based economy, the city, along with its region, has a seaport with naval repairing facilities. Its major industries are related to naval construction and repair, with the Estaleiros da Viana do Castelo remaining one of the few large shipyards still in operation. Home to a large cluster of wind green electricity and car-parts industries it has become one of the most dynamic exporting regions in the country.

Architecture: Civic Since the early 1990s the city started a wide urban renewal plan, pioneering the "Polis program", and including enlarging the pedestrian areas, building new modern architecture and creating new public spaces and parks. Architects such as Siza Vieira, Eduardo Souto de Moura and Fernando Távora have participated in the construction of a modern, well preserved and lively city center. • Geraz do Lima carriage museum • Renaissance fountain (1535) in the Major Square • Palacio de Tavoras, a noble residence from the 16th and 17th centuries • Municipal Museum, housed in an 18th-century building and home to • Paços do Conselho ("Palace of the Council", 1502), of which only the façade remains today.

Culture In 2010, Viana do Castelo started to implement a project of rehabilitation of the city called Viana Criativa which is based on an investigation made by Paulo Caldeira along 4 years. Such project has the main purpose to attract more residents to a city where, during the last 500 years, many people around the world arrived to trade. Once upon a time, Viana was the second centre of commerce of Portugal and some investigators are now recognising that fado music was born based on the typical songs of Minho region.

Sport SC Vianense is the local football club. Founded in 1898, it is one of the oldest clubs in Portugal. They play their home matches at the 3000 capacity Estádio do Dr. José de Matos.